Mike is the heart and soul of Phil 'n the Void. For him, it's always been “all about the music.”
Mike got started by learning to play guitar at age 12 from a friend who was taking lessons at the time. His very first band's biggest gig was for his cousin's 11th birthday in his Aunt's basement. As they say, from humble beginnings comes greatness and Mike is no exception.
Soon after, his cousin Anthony needed a Paul Stanley for his Kiss tribute band and Mike was hooked. Their first gig, way back in May of 1979, was for Public School 97 in Brooklyn, NY, in full make-up and costume. He got to smash his Sekova hollow-body on stage and the student body thought they were seeing the real thing — what could be better than that?
A few years after high school Mike hung up his guitar and began what turned out to be a successful DJ entertainment company focusing on musical entertainment for private affairs. Sticking with the music, he learned the power of adding the perfect musical element to any event. In 1987, he met Joe when he was hired to work for his entertainment company, Touch of Blast, in Staten Island, NY.
His first “real” band experience was in the 90's with a few friends from the DJ business, which included Joe behind the drums. They certainly did okay and played a few great gigs to some pretty high acclaim. They were all “30 Something” and so the band was named. These days, Mike has reunited with cousin Anthony. Working in corporate America by day, Mike is always ready to pick-up the guitar and grab hold of the microphone and lend his musical support as the front man for Phil 'n the Void.
Mike met his wife, Nina, while working in a Piscataway, NJ, nightclub. She tells how she fell for him one night while he was on stage singing with a party band. The song was Call Me Al by Paul Simon (not exactly a romantic classic). They dated for a while and finally married in 1999. They had two kids in their first three years, and currently call Hillsborough, NJ, their home. Both kids started piano lessons early and are now taking guitar lessons as well. They are both very much into music just like dad!
Mom makes all the gigs and is Mike's biggest fan. When the gig is local to home, Nina takes on the role of social coordinator and ensures the band has as big a following as possible. No one can rally a group of friends better than Nina! Mike's guitar of choice these days is a Fender Nasville Power Telecaser. After a few years with a Parker Fly strapped on it was time for a change and here comes the Tele! I wonder what will be NEXT?
Mike's favorite quote – “Love one woman, many guitars.”
